Visiting Bulldogs roll past Cougars

February 9, 2013

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION - Donte Grantham led Martinsburg with 17 points and seven rebounds in a 73-48 victory over Jefferson Friday night as part of an all-around effort that Martinsburg displayed to skyrocket the offense in the opening quarter.

"Our kids were ready to go today," Martinsburg coach Dave Rogers said. "The defensive pressure did a great job. We shared the basketball, and anytime we get out to an early lead like that, it helps."

"Everybody hustled and gave a great effort," senior Denzel Cole said. "We have great defenders, great shooters like Jalen (Lewis), Buddha (Grantham).

Article Photos

Donte’ Grantham of Maratinsburg drives to the basket as Jefferson’s Michael King reaches in vain to try to make a stop Friday night. (Journal photo by Spenser Leatherman)

The blue-collar work from Cole, who finished the night with six points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals, along with Jordan Robinson's six points, eight assists and four steals, helped the Bulldogs to a 39-16 advantage at halftime.

Cole ended the first-quarter scoring for the Bulldogs with a buzzer-beating halfcourt shot that took a small rattle inside the rim before going through the net for a 29-8 advantage .

"I was hoping that one went in," Cole said. "I do that for every shot I take. I am a shooter for a reason, and it's not to just take shots."

"Time was running low, and Denzel had to get it up there," Rogers said of the shot. "It was a great shot for him."

The Bulldogs took a 23-point lead into the halftime break with a 10-8 second quarter.

Jefferson, which was playing without Jalen Smith, had to rely on another scoring source to attempt to chip away at the Martinsburg lead.

Michael King led all scorers with 20 points, including six 3-point shots.

"I started to find my shot at the Big Atlantic tournament in Beckley," King said. "We then lost Jalen, who was our main 3-point shooter, so I had to come in and take more of those kind of shots.

"As I was taking those shots, I started making them."

"He shot the ball well," Rogers said of King. "When our defense does a lot of trapping, we leave a guy open for those kind of shots, and he hit them."

Although Jefferson outscored Martinsburg 21-19 in the third frame, the Cougars were unable to chip away at the lead any further as Martinsburg stretched the lead back up to 25 before the final buzzer sounded.